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Following the acceptance of the 2008 Formula 1 Sporting Regulations by the World Motor Sport Council on the 22nd of March 2006, we list the major changes for these regulations from 2006:

Homologated engines:
Article 86 - e states: Only engines which have been homologated by the FIA in accordance with Appendix 6 may be used at an Event during the 2008, 2009 and 2010 seasons.

This basically means that an engine development freeze will apply for 3 years. What is interesting is that the regulation states in Appendix 6:
A homologated engine is an engine identical in every respect to :
(i) an engine delivered to the FIA prior to 1 June 2006 or,
(ii) an engine delivered to the FIA after 1 June 2006, or modified and re-delivered to the FIA after 1 June 2006, which the FIA is satisfied, in its absolute discretion and after full consultation with all other suppliers of engines for the Championship, could fairly and equitably be allowed to compete with other homologated engines.

Does this mean an engine delivered after 1 June 2006 may not be accepted ? Will the FIA decide in 2008 to go back to June 2006 spec engines if all or some of the V8 engines are significantly developed in 2007 ?

2 Races per Engine:
This rule remains as per the current regulations however the penalty is changed from a 10 place drop on the grid to adding 15 Kg to the minimum weight of the car for each time an unscheduled engine change occurs.

4 Races per Gearbox:
A gearbox must last 4 consecutive events. Each time an unscheduled gearbox change occurs in a car, 15 kg will be added to the minimum weight of the car.

Parc Ferme
Cars will be in parc ferme no later than 18:30 on the first day of practice.

This isn't very clear. Article 117 states:
Each car will be deemed to be in parc ferm? from 18.30 on the first day of practice until the green lights are illuminated at the start of the
formation lap which immediately precedes the start of the race.

And article 119 states:
At some time before 18.30 on both days of practice (and the day between in Monaco) all cars must be taken to the parc ferm?, where they will remain secure until the following day. Whilst cars are in the parc
ferm? they may be covered and fitted with devices to keep them warm, no team personnel will be permitted there unless specifically authorised by the FIA technical delegate.

And article 120 states:
At 08.30 on the following day of the race, or at other times if the relevant Event timetable makes this necessary, teams will be permitted to take their cars back to their garages where, again, they will remain
under parc ferm? conditions until the green lights are illuminated at the start of the formation lap which immediately precedes the first start of the race.

With article 121 stating:
If a competitor modifies any part on the car or makes changes to the set up of the suspension whilst the car is being held under parc ferm? conditions the relevant driver must start the race from the pit lane and
follow the procedures laid out in Article 136.

It implies that setup changes to cars cannot happen on Saturday ? What will Saturday practice be used for ?

Obviously this is designed to force the teams to run on Friday but then there won't be much action on Saturday practice!


Spare Car
Spare cars will not be allow

Testing
Each team is limited to 30,000 km of testing in a calendar year

It is worth noting that the engine manufacturers (BMW, Honda, Mercedes, Renault and Toyota) have sent a letter to the FIA on the eve of the World Motor Sport Council meeting raising concerns about some of these new regulations particularly engine homologation, testing restriction, engine ballast penalty and the new gearbox rules. However the FIA decided to adopt these regulations and invited all interested teams to enter the 2008 Championship and participate in discussions on any element that the teams beleive could be improved.

Click here for some more on the changes and links to the full 2008 Formula One Sporting Regulations

Letter from the Manufacturers to the FIA
FIA's reponse

Its getting crazy now..........what is the point of having a saturday practice when you cant make any adjustments to the car?


Will they be allowed to make setup changes during qualifying???????

Can these rules b altered if all the teams come in & raise questions on a certain rules,like set up or ballast to be used??

Or they signed ,sealed,delivered??

That's the tricky questions Kapel, do you sign first then try to convince the other teams to the changes ?
The current 2008 sporting regs have been accepted so they are the baseline. Sure if the majority of the teams agree then the F1 Commission and the WMSC approves then yes but if there are fundemental differences then it could be difficult and that is why I suspect the manufacturers want to resolve some of those issues before signing and not after.

As to how changes can be approved, it goes like this:

RULE CHANGES

1. Changes to the Technical Regulations will be proposed by the Technical Working Group (TWG) consisting of one senior technical representative from each team and chaired by a representative of the FIA.
2. Changes to the Sporting Regulations will be proposed by the Sporting Working Group (SWG) consisting of one senior representative from each team and chaired by a representative of the FIA.
3. Decisions in the TWG and SWG will be taken by a simple majority vote. The FIA representative will not vote unless the teams? representatives are equally divided, in which case he will exercise a casting vote.
4. Proposals from the TWG and the SWG will go to the Formula One Commission consisting of six representatives from the teams, five representatives from the race promoters and one representative
each from the Commercial Rights Holder and the FIA.
At least two race promoters must be from Europe and at least two from outside Europe. Decisions of the Commission will be by simple majority. The FIA will have a casting vote in the event of equality.
5. The Formula One Commission may accept or refuse a proposal of the TWG or the SWG, but not amend it. A proposal which is refused may be sent back to the relevant Working Group for further consideration.
6. Proposals accepted by the Formula One Commission will be put before the World Motor Sport Council for a final decision. Proposals which are not accepted by the World Motor Sport Council may be sent back to the Formula One Commission and the relevant Working Group for further consideration.
7. Changes required for safety reasons will be considered separately by the FIA, which will take into account any representations made by the TWG or SWG.

So as you can see, it could be very difficult to change a rule!